The clouds were thick in the eastern sky when we headed out this morning. Was afraid we might get hit by the "scattered rain showers" that was forecast.

On the roads we would be on, that would be bad.

Figured for sure there wouldn't be a decent sunrise.

I was wrong.

Only five grouse on the first strutting ground, which has had more, so the strut appears to be tapering off. The sun still hadn't come up as we sped towards the second lek of the morning.

Forty-nine cocks and one hen on lek two. But they were quitting early.

Up onto the Continental Divide for lek three (literally on the Divide, although not many strut on the Atlantic side). Another 30 cocks, and a single hen. You can count two other leks from the same spot, but both were empty, as they have been in recent years.

No other leks close enough to check, so we stayed, watching grouse, taking photos, and trying for video.

I haven't seen a single copulation all spring, and although this little hen kept trying until almost eight o'clock, nobody stepped up to the plate to take care of her needs.

And when she wandered off, so did everybody else.

So did we.

Discovered a new fence on the way out. Think it's on public land, and nobody mentioned it. And it's five wires, not four like it is supposed to be.

Something to check on tomorrow.

But for this morning, we made it home in time to join the wife in bed for coffee, donuts and the Sunday paper for a little while before Mass.